THE HOME OF MMJNEWS

Washington- Senate Bill 5379 passes and now heads to the House

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Senate has unanimously passed a measure that adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana.

Senate Bill 5379 passed the chamber Tuesday night and now heads to the House for consideration.

Washington voters approved a medical marijuana law in 1998 that gives doctors the right to recommend — but not prescribe — marijuana for people suffering from cancer and other conditions that cause “intractable pain.”

In 2012, voters passed a measure allowing the sale of marijuana to adults for recreational use at licensed stores, which started opening last summer.

Several measures have been brought forth by lawmakers this year after to address the dual markets.

One measure that has previously passed the Senate would exempt qualified patients from paying sales tax on medical products.

State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, the sponsor of the bill, said the Veteran’s Administration is on board with this legislation and retired veterans who treat PTSD symptoms with marijuana are not at risk of losing their benefits.